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Wight reflects on ‘special campaign’

Scotland Women 7s squad got off to a flying start under new Head Coach Scott Wight. Not only did they win the Rugby Europe Women’s Sevens Trophy, they also gained promotion to the Grand Prix competition next season.

They were unbeaten in both rounds in the Czech Republic and Hungary and cruised past the opposition to score 485 points in 12 games, while conceding just 12 points.

Wight said: “At the first tournament I started the same seven but after Hungary it showed where they are as a squad because I didn’t have the same starting seven once showing the depth of the squad.

“Before the Czech Republic I was probably more nervous than I was at the final at Twickenham. When you’re playing you’re in total control, you can make the calls, you know you’re fit whereas with coaching you’ve done all the work beforehand.”

Wight, who started working with the squad in April as Scotland 7s season came to and end, selected a mix of youth and experience for the first outing and kept the same 12 for the second round.

New caps Rhona Lloyd, Hannah Smith and Elizabeth Musgrove rose to the challenge with all three scoring on their debuts. Lloyd went on to claim top try scorer with 20 to her name.

Captained by 19-year-old Lisa Thomson (pictured right), the squad had the trophy and promotion in their sights from day one.

Wight said: “At our first day at Oriam I made it clear we were here to win. Credit to them all for stepping up.

“Credit also has to go to the wider squad of 18. My hat goes off to those girls who stuck at it after not being selected. You’ve got to appreciate the work they put in to help us progress.”

Though the team had achieved their goals, Wight said they need to push on and rise to the challenge of the next tier of sevens.

I’m really happy with where the group is now, but this is just the start of something special. The Grand Prix will be a step up. It won’t be as easy but for them but to keep improving they need to play in the next level up and test themselves in this environment.”

Returning to the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in 2018 puts Scotland Women 7s a step closer to the long-term aims of qualifying for the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Scott concluded: “The highlight for me was seeing what they were actually capable of.

“It was easy going coaching-wise because they always wanted to learn. They were always asking what they can do to improve as an individual but also in their roles within the squad.

“The amount of enthusiasm the players were coming to training with has been most enjoyable thing. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to caching.”

Read the results from the Czech Republic HERE and the results from Hungary HERE.